Deutsche Bahn records profit for first time in 7 years
Figures from the first half of 2026 show that Deutsche Bahn has returned to making a profit for the first time in seven years, passenger numbers are also up.
Deutsche Bahn, the German national rail operator, has reported its first profit in seven years as of the first half of 2026. Passenger numbers have also reached the highest levels since the coronavirus pandemic. According to Tagesschau, Deutsche Bahn generated hundreds of millions in profits between January and June 2026, compared to a loss of 760 million euros during the same period last year.
The rail company has attributed the turnaround to a surge in passenger numbers, up by 17 million compared to the same period in 2025. This increase in ridership is due to people opting for trains over cars, driven by rising fuel prices triggered by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Deutsche Bahn has introduced several new initiatives to attract more customers, such as the 99-euro family ticket, last-minute ticket deals, Flexpreis Young for passengers under 27, and a free BahnCard25 for young individuals.
The 99-euro family ticket and last-minute ticket offers have been particularly popular, with around 50,000 young people availing themselves of the free BahnCard25.
Written by urgent.news from IamExpat Germany (All Germany News)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
